The Ultimate Air Purifier Quiz

It's safe to say that sometimes you probably can't breathe well indoors, whether it be from smoke, strong cooking odors or dust. Do you just have to live with it, or is there something that can be done? Take this quiz to see how much you know about improving your indoor air quality.

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Question 1 of 20

How much do Americans spend per year on air purifiers?

$150 million

$250 million

Americans spend a whopping $250 million each year on home air purifying systems.

$350 million

Question 2 of 20

Why is air inside your home often dirtier than outside?

because of contaminants such as mold, dust and pet dander

Inside air is often concentrated with mold, dust and pet dander, which can aggravate allergies. Pass the tissues!

because heating and cooling systems don't bring air from the outside to the inside

because of built-up cooking smells

Question 3 of 20

Who is most affected by poor indoor air quality?

teenagers

adults age 65 and older

people with allergies and respiratory difficulties

Those who have allergies or respiratory difficulties suffer most from indoor air contaminants.

Question 4 of 20

What do air filters do?

They separate oxygen from carbon dioxide in air.

They remove humidity from the air.

They filter air particles to remove contaminants.

Air filters are vital in removing dust and other nasty particles in air.

Question 5 of 20

What shape of the material in an air filter is the most effective at cleaning the air?

a thin disc

a pleated shape

Pleated filters work best because of their increased surface area for catching particles.

tight coils

Question 6 of 20

What is the purpose of a filter cartridge in a heating or cooling unit?

to filter the air and prevent damage from dust and dirt buildup

Every heating or cooling unit must have a filter cartridge. It not only filters the air, but minimizes damage to the unit from dust and dirt.

to heat or cool the air

to compress and expel dust and dirt

Question 7 of 20

How effective are high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters?

They allow 0.3 percent penetration of particles that are 0.03 micrometers in size.

They allow less than 0.03 percent penetration of particles that are larger than 0.3 micrometers in size.

ULPA filters are so effective at filtering the air that they are used for the nuclear power industry.

fabric mills

dairy processing

Question 9 of 20

What happens when ionizing purifiers use a corona discharge?

Molecules pass through, pick up an electron and take on either a positive or negative charge.

Air passes through an intense magnetic field, and a positive or negative electron is attracted. The ionized particles then settle out of the air.

Static electricity in the air is discharged.

Ionized particles change the corona discharge into negative energy.

Question 10 of 20

Where does an ozone generator get oxygen from?

It creates oxygen.

It uses an oxygen tank.

It extracts oxygen from air molecules.

An ozone generator extracts two oxygen atoms (dioxygen) from air molecules.

Question 11 of 20

How stable is ozone?

It's very stable in low altitudes.

It's only unstable in upper levels of the atmosphere.

It's not very stable at all.

Ozone is unstable; it readily reacts with chemicals, oxidizes metals and causes corrosion.

Question 12 of 20

What is adsorbent material used for?

It traps one substance on the surface of another.

The word really is spelled "adsorbent" if you were wondering. Adsorb means to traps one substance onto another, similar to how activated charcoal collects toxic gas.

It cleans up hazardous spills.

It evaporates moisture in the air.

Question 13 of 20

Why is activated charcoal the most commonly used adsorbent material?

It is porous and contains many microscopic spongelike caverns.

Highly porous, activated charcoal has a large surface area that allows for many molecules to be trapped.

It has antibacterial properties.

Its black color absorbs heat in the air and helps to lower temperatures.

Question 14 of 20

What do CADR numbers refer to?

the effectiveness of air purifiers

Clean air delivery rate (CADR) numbers refer to how well an air cleaner removes various contaminants from a specific amount of air. Different pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen and dust have a different CADR number.

the speed at which the air is purified

the amount of pure oxygen in air

Question 15 of 20

Why would a company use an industrial air purifier in addition to its heating and cooling system?

Industrial air purifiers make commercial heating and cooling systems more efficient.

Certain companies are required to use air purifiers.

Some companies invest in these costly items to provide a necessary contamination-free environment, and many businesses use them because governments require them to comply with specific environmental regulations.

It's impressive to stakeholders and looks good in the company's annual report.

Question 16 of 20

How many times a minute is the air in the "clean room" at the Intel computer company purified?

five

10

A "clean room" is where computer microchips and other sensitive electronic components are manufactured. It sounds incredible, but because Intel has a system that completely changes the inside air 10 times every minute, there is only one lone dust particle per cubic foot. Talk about spic and span!

15

Question 17 of 20

What criticism about air purifiers has been shown to be true?

They cost too much to run.

Home models are not effective.

Ozone air purifiers are harmful.

Studies done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicate that even when used according to manufacturer instructions, many ozone-generating air purifiers created ozone levels that exceed public health limits.

Question 18 of 20

Why don't ozone air purifiers sold in the U.S. require Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval?

because manufacturers aren't making claims about their health benefits

Although they can be readily sold, as long as manufacturers don't make claims about their health benefits, FDA approval is not required for ozone air purifiers.

because the air purifiers are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

because air purifiers are not food or drugs

Question 19 of 20

What does the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend regarding indoor air quality?

People should use buy only EPA-approved air purifiers.

People should use proven methods of minimizing indoor air pollution.

The EPA recommends using only verified methods of improving indoor air quality -- so don't waste your money on something that you don't know for sure will work.

The EPA does not recommend using air purifiers.

Question 20 of 20

Which of the following is NOT a good tip to control indoor air pollution?

Only smoke outside, turn on fans when cooking and open windows to let in fresh air.

Use bleach, ammonia and other strong cleansers to thoroughly disinfect tubs, sinks and toilets.

Strong cleansers give off fumes that linger in the air and could make you sick. Combining bleach and ammonia can lead to a violent chemical reaction, too!

Dust and vacuum your home regularly to remove mold, pet hair and other allergens.